spelunking

noun

noun

Etymology From spelunk + -ing. Back-formation from spelunker. Attested since 1946.

Usually The practice or hobby of exploring underground caverns.

In the great myths, the adventures are external, even when they involve such metaphorical spelunkings as the voyage into the underworld.2001, Nancy Hathaway, The Friendly Guide to Mythology, page 277:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.